The sun's rays crept through the neatly trimmed foliage in to the wooden window. The silence was deafening, soon to be interrupted by a droning snore that regularly bounced off of these, hollow walls. Outside, the tree's limbs shed their shimmering green leaves. The branches swayed and the tree creaked as the passive gusts of wind blew on the seasoned library.
Dnk. Dnk Dnk! A series of soft knocks came from outside. They went unnoticed. Dnk. Dnk! Dnk! The heavy snoring drowned them out -- at first. The methodical thumping became more and more persistent, as if it was aware that it was being disregarded. Dnk! Dnk! Dnk!
Ugh, how terribly impolite could a mare be to ignore somepony on such a long awaited day in Ponyville! And how rude was it to leave your door locked? Mind you that not to long ago was this a public arena, not particularly frequented by passersby, but on occasion occupied by yours truly! A pony, no different from any other looking for a good read. One could say pleasure avoids this tree entirely. [/size]
Twilight's Spike had been woken up by the first knock, he tried to drown it out by putting a pillow over his head with a deliberate sigh.
"The tree's residents couldn't be asleep, it was noon! Previously, I had made arrangements to pick up a mythological anthology I'd briefly skimmed before being kicked out by the mare's juvenile underling. I had only been there for seven hours! This was payback, an intentional ploy to drive me batty! It had to be. Humph! I'll show them.
And then in that instance the bothersome knocking stopped. The reluctant creaking was restored.
Smash!
"Spike!"
"On it!"
Spike threw his pillow into the corner and left the room to get the dust pan. Similarly, Twilight stretched and rolled out of the bed. He walked back in to the room with his broom and pan towards the broken window, he began sweeping the glass in to a pile as Twilight watched.
"What happened?" She asked with a tired, yet discerning look on her face.
"Don't look at me. I've been asleep all day!"
"Hmm," Twilight gave a can to Spike and he discarded the debris, "I need you to go make sure this is the only window broken."
"Alright." Spike left the room and preceded to check all the windows downstairs Twilight accompanied him. She looked for a book as he wandered in and out of the main library.
"Uh... Twilight."
"Yes, Spike?"
"I found this note on one of the windowsills outside."
She walked over to Spike, lifted the note out of his hand and read it:
Lies are the friends of dullards, drunks and Discord, Miss Sparkle. I expected better from another anterior student of Princess Celestia.
P.S. Enjoy the rest of your day!
The note was crumbled and written in black ink. She studied the conspicuous note then turned to Spike. "What kind of pony breaks a window, leaves a note, then crumbles it?"
Spike shrugged his rugged shoulders, "I don't know, but whoever they are they have great aim!"
"This is serious, Spike. What if they come back?" Twilight strolled back over to the bookshelves.
Spike shook his head. "I'm sure as I'm purple they aren't gonna come back. If anything it was probably that weirdo from yesterday. They obviously didn't leave a name, we should just leave it alone. Maybe somepony accidently threw a rock.. and it just so happened to land in your window."
"You really are in denial aren't you," She responded, he looked away with grimace "how about I give you the day off while I do some investigating. I'll probably stop by the Market to grab a bite to eat."
"Oh alright." Spike said in a calm manner, trying to shield his enthusiasm.
Twilight put the worn note on a bookshelf, Spike let her out as she made her way to the Marketplace. The Market felt more crowded then usual, two new booths had sprung up. One orange and the other green. The green stall had a large crowd, it seem like every pony was in line. Odd enough every pony in line was a unicorn. Twilight shuffled over to Applejack's nearly empty stall. "Any luck?" Twilight teased.
"Whadda ya think? That booth there dang nearly took all our customers!" She snapped eyeing the increasing line.
"Enticing," Twilight replied, "What are they selling exactly?"
"Every time I ask I get a different response. Some say it's _____,others say ___, and the wildest one I've heard... well... is a little more controvershul.
Twilight sighed. "You mean, controversial?"
"Hey, don'tcha go gettin' fresh now, sugar-cube! I know whata said. Anyways, somepony told me it was some sorta fancy-shmancy potion. Strictly for unicorns," Applejack rolled her eyes and continued," but it don't compare to the rumors."
"What do you mean?"
"It's supposed to be a magic enhancer. Rivaling Alicorn magic. Made by none other than The Obnoxious and Arrogant Trixie."
Twilight looked back at the line in shock and whispered,
"The same Trixie that enslaved Ponyville?"
"That's what I'm saying. Now that you're up to date, buy some apples."
Twilight purchased an apple and got in line for the potion. An hour passed as Twilight waited her turn, the sun beat down on the crowd and the wait seemed everlasting. The pony in front of her took especially long, but once the mare's relentless barrage of questions ended it was finally Twilight's turn. Facing the opposite direction, Trixie sorted her bottles.
"Greetings, jere to try The Great and Powerful Trixie's Magical Enrichment Potion, I presume? She turned around, "Oh it's you. Well Trixie is not here to reign on your-- are those wings?
"Yes," She puffed out her wings, "What are you up to now?"
"What ever do you mean? The Great and Powerful Trixie is only giving the residents of Ponyville what they want." The crowd cheered as the unimpressed Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Now are you here to make a purchase or waste Trixie's precious time?"
"What's in the bottle?"
"What ever do you mean?"
"Stop saying that."
Trixie scoffed. "No."
"Ugh," Twilight sighed. "I heard your selling a "special" magic enhancer and I want to know how you got it."
Trixie leaned in to Twilight.
"It's a secret."
She smiled. Twilight's horn illuminated as she took one of the bottles off of the shelf and began walking back to her treehouse.
"H- hey! You have to pay for that!" Trixie shrieked.
"Pay? What ever do you mean?"
The Astonished and Flabbergasted Trixie's mouth dropped open as Twilight walked off, the young stallion who had been behind Twilight smiled. Trixie eyed the scheming youngster. She levitated a large pointed tree branch, aiming in the stallion's direction.
"Don't get any big ideas!"
Twilight strolled pass the increasing line while levitating the mysterious liquid in front of her, as she gave the crowd another look she saw the recent influx had brought a great number of fillies to the line. Twilight galloped the rest of the way home.
